MACHESNEY PARK — Antonie Crayton doesn’t like to lose, but loves to run.

And that’s why he was pretty pumped about the three gold medals hanging from his neck Saturday at the 2014 Northwestern Illinois Special Olympics Spring Games at Harlem High School.

Now the 11-year-old, who ran for the Rockford Public Schools Special Olympics team, finished first in the running long jump, the 100-meter run and ran a leg in the 400-meter relay.

“I love to run and play games and run and jump,” Crayton said. “It feels good.”

“He loves his sports,” said Adel Crayton, Antonie’s father. “He plays basketball and track, and the little guy can run.

“It makes me feel good seeing him feel good about winning. He wants to win and really likes winning.”

Rockford Public Schools Special Olympics coach Linda Kimel was proud of all her athletes, regardless of finish.

“Obviously performance is important, but we focus on doing your best and we really try to build a team,” Kimel said.

Kimel said the event, which host hundreds of athletes from northwest Illinois, allow parents of children with special needs a chance to see their sons or daughters participate and excel in athletic activities they may not have thought they could.

“There’s very few times that they get to be a part of something,” Kimel said. “They’re the kids in school that are the odd man out.

“The parents think, ‘Oh, my kid can’t do that.’ Yes they can. And it’s so cool to see parents with all these other families that thought they were the only ones with these problems come together and share ideas. That’s why I do it.”

Antonie Crayton will get the chance to compete at the Special Olympic State Games in June. He’s pretty excited about it.